Annual Review 2008/9

Unlocking the potential of agriculture for African farmers now and in the future Cassava crop in Katine, Uganda

Photgraphy: Dan Chung, Guardian Tribute to Dick Sandford 1924–2009

Dick was a very experienced agriculturalist brought in by David Campbell, one of FARM-Africa’s founders, to help him and Sir Michael Wood define FARM-Africa’s role and objectives. Dick worked tirelessly, as a volunteer, turning a vague idea into a practical reality and planning all our early projects in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

A real feel for the lives of people in Africa Dick grew up in rural Ethiopia. He had a real feel for the lives of people in Africa who make their living from the soil and a strong belief that all people are of equal value. For many years he worked in Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, and practised participatory development long before it had been invented.

Dick designed the project I managed in Ethiopia in the late 1980s and I treasure my time in the field with him. He was a wise, kind and modest man, generous with words of encouragement, who always had a twinkle in his eye and an eye for the absurd. His projects were invariably ambitious and demanding of anyone who took them on.

A long-term vision for the continent He was a genuine optimist about Africa, and always finding some Dick Sandford was a truly good in any setback. His optimism was based on a long-term remarkable man who helped shape vision for the continent, patience with its ups and downs, and a deep understanding that genuine progress and lasting change FARM-Africa’s mission and values. takes time and persistence. He had a profound and lasting Dick founded a new charity, Sunarma , in Ethiopia and, until quite influence on the lives of countless recently, made regular trips to work there. In this and many other ways, Dick will live on. His influence on FARM-Africa is seen daily people in Africa. and we will continue to strive to make him proud of us.

Dr Christie Peacock Chief Executive Officer

Our Chief Executive Officer reflects on 2008

FARM-Africa’s vision of a prosperous rural Africa is more important now than ever. At a time of unprecedented global change, the needs of communities we work with are at risk of being forgotten. FARM-Africa remains committed to ensuring that Africa’s farmers and herders can improve their own lives, not just for today but for the long term.

The real crisis – food or partnership with the Global Alliance for Challenging times full finance? Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), of opportunities who received funding from the Bill & During 2008 there was a long overdue Whilst FARM-Africa faces unprecedented Melinda Gates Foundation to develop new recognition by governments and donors that challenges in this economic environment, livestock vaccines and to find ways for agriculture has a central role to play in ending through prudence in reshaping the poorer livestock keepers to access them. rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The rise organisation’s priorities and by starting This is allowing us to explore innovative ways in world soft commodity prices galvanised to build our unrestricted reserves during to scale up our tried and tested veterinary the international community to focus on the 2008, we are in stronger position to service delivery system. importance of increasing food production. weather the fluctuations in the current There is however a real danger that the economic environment. current financial crisis will distract the global Leaving South Africa community from its focus on the importance Difficult times and unexpected problems of food security. FARM-Africa will be working FARM-Africa decided to close down its test us all but the commitment of our to keep their attention on this critical issue. work in South Africa during 2008. Having staff, trustees and supporters means that worked in South Africa for 16 years it was FARM-Africa will continue to create lasting sad that we were not able to develop a change for Africa’s farmers in 2009 and Making the case in the financially viable long-term programme there. beyond. Our current Chairman Lord De UK parliament It indicates the relatively low priority given Ramsey will be stepping down this year, and During 2008 FARM-Africa had an to rural poverty both in that country and by I would like to thank him for his wisdom opportunity to restate the case for international donors. and unfailing support to the organisation. supporting Africa’s farmers to a more Martin Evans will take over as Chairman in receptive audience. We helped establish July and I look forward to working with him Funding Africa’s rural in the years ahead. the new All Party Parliamentary Group on entrepreneurs Agriculture and Food for Development which was launched in the British Parliament The Maendeleo Agricultural Technology FARM-Africa relies on its many and in October 2008. This group is helping to Fund (MATF) continued to help farmers diverse supporters. We thank you very raise the political profile of this important to add value to their crops and to market much for your support and encourage issue and will publish its report on global them successfully. MATF is poised to scale new supporters to join us as we continue food security in mid-2009. up the best of its work and we are currently to transform the lives of so many of the world’s neediest people. seeking investment to allow this to go ahead.

In 2008 the National Farmers Union (NFU) A new partnership in nominated FARM-Africa as their chosen animal health charity for their Centenary appeal which will Dr Christie Peacock FARM-Africa has formed an exciting go towards scaling up MATF’s work. Chief Executive Officer

FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 1 Where we work

We’ll all feel the impact of the global food aid. In 2008, we helped nearly 350,000 small-scale farmers and herders to raise their living standards through improved economic downturn during 2009, but management of their natural resources, providing a better chance nobody more acutely than those already of establishing food security for their families. living on the edge. Those for whom $1 a Changing policy in Tanzania day must feed their family, pay school fees, buy essential medicines. I’m proud We work with pastoralists and forest dwellers in northern Tanzania. We are at the forefront of helping the government to of the UK’s leadership on international set up land registries to issue legal titles. Thousands of farmers development and our continued now have legal rights to their land, a significant step towards a more certain future for themselves and their families. This will help determination to fight poverty at over a quarter of a million people to be able to use their land in home and abroad. I’m also proud to be in ways which will provide a sustainable living. partnership with FARM-Africa in the fight against world poverty.” In Uganda FARM-Africa works with rural communities to Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, reduce poverty by helping them to develop innovative ways of December 2008 managing their natural resources. We work in four districts of eastern Uganda where people are Over the last 20 years there has been a chronic lack of investment desperately poor and the incidence of malaria and HIV/AIDS in agriculture. Yet over 80% of people living in remote or rural is high. In 2008 we reached nearly 9,000 farmers with our field areas of Africa rely on the food they grow and the animals they projects and, as a result, benefited 25,000 men, women and keep to survive. Faced with harsh conditions and poor access to children in the wider community. vital resources, farmers and herders have a constant struggle to make a living. FARM-Africa helps rural Kenyans develop FARM-Africa works in five countries in eastern Africa where rural innovative ways to manage their natural resources and ensure that poverty is particularly acute. We work with subsistence farmers, they play a role in shaping the policies that affect their lives. herders and forest dwellers who seek opportunities to make their lives better and often live on land that has the potential to Three-quarters of Kenya is arid or semi-arid, and in these harsh produce better yields. FARM-Africa is an experienced organisation environments farmers struggle to make a living from agriculture with skilled staff, and pioneers ways to make growing more food and livestock. In 2008, we helped 91,000 people develop viable and increasing household income possible. livelihoods. The wider effects in having better provision for livestock care and breeding, and improved crop yields, have been In 2008, we estimate that our innovative programmes helped over felt by nearly 600,000 people in some way. 3 million people. Half a million people benefited directly from our work, however the services developed through our work, such as animal health care or improved seed varieties, are used far beyond FARM-Africa is helping communities in our direct project work and in this way, a further 2.5 million Southern Sudan to develop sustainable ways to earn a people benefited from improved circumstances that FARM-Africa living from livestock and agriculture. helped bring about. Already badly affected by the civil war, counties in Southern Sudan are experiencing an influx of returnees. In 2008 we worked with Reducing poverty in Ethiopia nearly 4,500 farming families to create ways to rebuild their lives One in three people in Ethiopia are at risk of starvation and and reduce their reliance on food aid, helping more than 150,000 around 17% of the population already depend on emergency people.

2 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Human Development Index ranking 2007/08 147 out of 177 Population 36.2 million Population living below international poverty line of US$2 a day no data Displaced population 8 million Population relying on agriculture 80% GDP from agriculture 34% Dependence on agriculture ranking 19th most dependent country

Human Development Index ranking 2007/08 169 out of 177 Population 77.4 million Population living below international poverty line of US$2 a day 80% Population relying on agriculture 80% GDP from agriculture 48% Dependence on agriculture ranking 4th most dependent country

Ethiopia

Human Development Index ranking 2007/08 154 out of 177 countries Population 28.8 million Sudan Population living below international poverty line of US$2 a day no data Population relying on agriculture 86% GDP from agriculture 34% Dependence on agriculture ranking 20th most dependent country

Uganda Kenya

Human Development Index ranking 2007/08 148 out of 177 Population 34.3 million Population living below international poverty line of US$2 a day 50% Tanzania Population relying on agriculture and livestock 70% GDP from agriculture 27% Dependence on agriculture ranking 27th most dependent country

Human Development Index ranking 2007/08 159 out of 177 Population 38.3 million Population living below international poverty line of US$2 a day 50% Population relying on agriculture 80% GDP from agriculture 45% Dependence on agriculture ranking 8th most dependent country

FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 3 WHAT WE DO

“In light of today’s challenges, my message is simple: resuming economic growth, resolving the food crisis, and tackling the challenge of poverty must necessarily be based on creating a dynamic smallholder agriculture sector. Investing in smallholder agriculture is the most sustainable safety net for societies.” President Kanayo F. Nwanze, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), May 2009

Helping African farmers to tackle hunger in the long term and help to Transforming lives help themselves build a prosperous rural Africa. We bring this about by actively sharing our “Improving agriculture is central to expertise and offering technical support to reducing poverty in Africa. FARM-Africa’s Removing barriers and other NGO’s and organisations and those combination of technical expertise and creating solutions who work in agricultural development. experience of working at community level “FARM-Africa can play an important role We also strive to change policies, removing is helping to improve the lives of poor by being able to work at the local level, but barriers to progress and encouraging farmers in Africa.” with an eye on impacts at [the] national or agriculture in the countries where we Hilary Benn, former Secretary of State for regional level. We need more of this kind work. We also promote awareness and International Development, UK of innovation and learning – finding out understanding of the importance of what works well and where. FARM-Africa agriculture both locally and to international FARM-Africa provides the training and is more strategic in their thinking than governments and opinion formers. support that poor rural communities most small development organisations, in need to identify and implement terms of how to get the maximum impact Perhaps most importantly, we partner with appropriate solutions to many of the from a limited budget.” other influential organisations to ensure that overwhelming problems they face. We Derek Byerlee, co-director of the World as many people as possible benefit from the directly support families to help them Development Report 2008 innovative solutions to poverty, developed manage their crops, livestock, forests and tested through our projects. In this way, and water in better ways and so work Our core strategy is to use the experience over the next three years FARM-Africa plans themselves out of poverty. that we have gained through our projects to enable better opportunities for over 12 to develop models of good practice which million people in rural Africa – an impact far FARM-Africa works to support the drive can be adapted and replicated beyond beyond what we could achieve alone. and entrepreneurial spirit of African farmers. FARM-Africa’s programmes. In this way our We believe that helping farmers to help work will have an impact well beyond our themselves, by finding local solutions, will projects.

4 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Photography: Dan Chung, Guardian OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION

“The African Union Commission is highly impressed with the work of FARM-Africa. They have accomplished a great deal by strengthening the capacity of African farmers to address their numerous problems.” Babagana Ahmadu, former Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission

Developing good practice and scaling up successes We develop models of good practice in smallholder development, pastoral development, community forest management and land reform that demonstrably reduce poverty in diverse situations and with wide applicability.

FARM-Africa’s grassroots projects develop innovative technologies for smallholder farmers that are transferable, sustainable and sensitive to local environmental and economic conditions.

The South Sudan Livelihood Recovery and Development Programme began in Gogrial West County in 2006. This programme assists vulnerable households to develop sustainable livelihoods and reduce their reliance on food aid. In 2008 this effective project was expanded to the neighbouring county of Aweil South. The work is informing the development of a post- conflict model for improving livelihoods which will have wide applicability in other regions in Africa.

During the year we consolidated our work with local livestock keepers and trained 69 new farmers to become Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs). We provided the new CAHWs with appropriate drug kits. We also gave refresher courses to a further 51 CAHWs who had been trained previously. In 2008 these CAHWs helped us to vaccinate over 98,775 animals against a range of diseases, improving household security for local people. To make sure that the project is successful in the long term we also dug five boreholes to provide essential water for both people and livestock and trained local people to maintain and repair them.

6 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Changing policies We look forward to seeing the impact of this work in the second year of the project when the first harvests of improved cassava We seek to improve relevant government policies that inhibit will boost household food security and income. the uptake of good practice and the prioritisation of agriculture in public sector expenditure and Poverty Reduction Strategy As an expert organisation with skilled staff, we share our Papers. expertise with others through training and technical support. This means working with communities, local institutions and FARM-Africa always works alongside governments in Africa. government, equipping them with information and setting up We use our projects to identify what works and what does opportunities for interaction. This helps enhance the impact of not work, and use these lessons to build a body of evidence agricultural innovations and supports appropriate policy change. from which governments can learn and improve the way they support their communities. Our community forest management approach is now embedded in the national forest policy of Raising awareness to gain support Ethiopia and fragile forests are being protected, thanks to the work of FARM-Africa and our partners. In order to facilitate the development and scaling up of FARM- Africa models, we seek increased understanding of, and engagement in, African agricultural development among the public, media, Sharing expertise companies and organisations in the North and South. We seek demonstrable improvement in the practice of agricultural development by government, civil society and private Our partnership with other organisations to found the All Party sector staff. Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development will ensure that the voices of Africa’s farmers are heard in the UK FARM-Africa’s role in the highly innovative Katine Community by policy makers. The Group is a cross-party initiative that draws Partnerships Project in Uganda underlines the value of our members from both UK Houses of Parliament. FARM-Africa experience of working with rural communities. FARM-Africa has helped set up the Group, launched in October 2008, in response to become a technical adviser to the livelihoods element of this growing concerns over the crisis in food prices and the continuing influential project which is being run by the African Medical and decline in the funding of agricultural development. Research Foundation (AMREF) and the Guardian newspaper. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has already become We are working with hundreds of farmers in small research a powerful platform for policy, having attracted several influential groups in 18 villages, showing them how improved technology can players including the Director-General of the United Nations Food increase their crop and livestock production. We are also working and Agriculture Organization and the Vice-President of the Alliance to help farmers get better prices for their produce by accessing for a Green Revolution in Africa. FARM-Africa is a member of the new local and national markets. APPG steering group.

We are Tr aining a family Who trains Who shows others Who invest To feed to farm better... their community... their success... in farming... a continent

FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 7 Smallholder enterprise, pathways out of poverty

FARM-Africa’s experience has shown that when programmes are based on plans developed by local communities, their incomes and productivity are significantly boosted.

Smallholder agriculture is the main Maendeleo Agricultural Partnering with British livelihood provider for 80% of rural Technology Fund (MATF) farmers Africans, most of whom rely on less than one hectare of land to feed The Maendeleo Agricultural Technology The UK National Farmers’ Union their families, keep livestock and grow Fund, set up in 2002, awards grants (NFU) and industry partners joined crops to generate cash for their needs. to farmers’ organisations, community FARM-Africa to launch the ‘Africa 100 However, with access to the right tools, groups and local NGOs to scale up Appeal’ as part of the NFU’s centenary. training and services such as animal tested new agricultural technologies This appeal is not about food aid, healthcare, farmers can dramatically and practices in East Africa. but instead targets agricultural improve their economic position. development projects in East Africa. Helping smallholder farmers make a Since 2002, over 65 projects have The appeal funds will help African viable living from very little land is a tested the viability of a variety of farmers improve their productivity and pathway out of poverty for millions of smallholder enterprises in Uganda, in this way will help communities to people in Africa. Kenya and Tanzania. For every dollar become more food secure. invested in projects, farmers’ incomes We have been supporting smallholder have risen between US$1.30 and British farmers know how agricultural families in their efforts to improve US$24: clear evidence that new improvements have helped transform their lives for the past 24 years. technologies can transform lives. productivity over the last generation. We scale up our tried and tested They want to find a way to help fellow approaches in many different ways to Projects funded by MATF in 2008 farmers in Africa take advantage of reach as many farmers as possible. One looked particularly at linking rural some of the same benefits and make a of the most successful ways in which communities to nearby markets in positive difference in Africa, now and in we do this is through the innovative areas as diverse as Namatumba district the future. Maendeleo Agricultural Technology (Uganda), Masasi district (Tanzania) and Fund (MATF). Homabay district (Kenya). www.africa100appeal.com

8 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Cassava brings food security Return on MATF Funds in Uganda: Robert’s story Project No. of US$ generated by each Robert belongs to the Kiwongoir Farmers’ US$ spent in the form of an Group. All 62 members of the group were MATF grant short of food because they grew local Diffusion of tissue culture banana $2.8 varieties of cassava which were susceptible technology to mosaic virus and took a long time to mature. Sustainable production, seed supply & marketing of African indigenous $24.3 After learning that he could grow a lot vegetables more using new cassava varieties and new Cassava mosaic virus tolerant methods, Robert now harvests enough to cassava multiplication, processing & $19 feed himself and his wife, mother and eight marketing children. He sells the surplus to pay for school equipment and invest in cattle. Improving chicken production through programmed hatching & cockerel $16 Robert’s farmers’ group is one of 10 exchange groups in the Nakasongola District Farmers’ Association in Uganda. With a grant from the Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund, the Association helped more farmers to plant new cassava varieties that are resistant to mosaic virus and have much higher yields.

The project has helped farmers who were previously dependent on food aid to grow enough food for themselves and their families and have surplus to sell which provides an income. Photography: Dan Chung, Guardian Dan Chung, Photography: “Small farms: food for today, tomorrow and the future” Dr Peter Hazell

The 2008 global food crisis added impetus large numbers of people into poverty A tilted playing field to the debate on the role of smallholders and urban ghettos. Worldwide there are For most developing countries, the in development. Peter Hazell, a Member of about 450 million small farms of less than problem is not that small farms are FARM-Africa’s Board of Trustees, formerly two hectares, and they account for large inherently unviable but that the playing at the International Food Policy Research shares of developing country populations, field is tilted against them. Institute and now a Professorial Research employment and food production. Associate at the School of Oriental and Among the more powerful forces working African Studies, University of London, gives Small farms offer important economic and against small farmers is the shift toward his view on the future of small farms. social advantages for countries in economic consumer-driven markets as part of Peter recently provided evidence to the All transition to industrial economies. market liberalisation and globalisation. The Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture small farmer is increasingly being asked to and Food for Development. Boost food security compete in markets that demand much Small farms boost food security at the more in terms of quality and food safety Is there a future for small local level, where high transport and and which are increasingly dominated by farms? marketing costs can drive up prices of supermarkets and large processors and food brought in from elsewhere. At the exporters who source from preferred Few symbols of economic inefficiency are national level, because small farms use land suppliers on an international basis. As small as potent or enduring as the small farm. more productively, they help low-income farms struggle to diversify into higher value Consider the East Anglia wheat farmer countries become more self-sufficient in products, they must find new ways to in his combine harvester, single-handedly staple foods. access and meet the requirements of these cutting a swathe through his 2,000 demanding markets. hectares, as opposed to his Malawian or Boost productivity Ethiopian maize-growing counterparts Developing country farmers also face wielding their hoes and sickles on their Small farms produce more per hectare unfair competition because of the small family plots. Karl Marx viewed small of cropland than large farms, and use agricultural policies of most rich countries. farms as self-exploiting, and the view that more labour and less capital, all of which These countries unfairly subsidise their small farms are not commercially viable align more efficiently with the resource agricultural exports while restricting and even an impediment to development endowments of most poor countries. the export opportunities of developing continues to be widely held, with country farmers. development experts like Paul Collier Lessen migration arguing it is wiser to promote large-scale At the same time that markets have operations. Small farms help slow migration and the become more unforgiving and competitive, explosive growth of large cities. structural adjustment and privatisation Yet such a position ignores the enormous policies have left many small farmers diversity of small farms around the The advantages of small farms slowly without adequate and affordable access world and fails to take into account their disappear as countries develop and to key inputs and services, including farm substantial prospects in many developing labour becomes more costly. This leads credit. countries. Nor does it make clear how to a natural transition to larger farms, but replacing small farms with large ones one that does not normally begin until could be managed without pushing countries leave low-income status and takes several generations to unfold.

10 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 A viable future

Context is very important when thinking about appropriate interventions to assist small farms. In countries with dynamic and growing national economies like India or China, small farmers have many new opportunities to diversify into higher value products and non-farm sources of income, or to exit farming entirely. These kinds of opportunities are much more restricted in poor, slow growing countries like in much of Africa. Here the best growth potential lies with food staples and traditional livestock products. The demand for these products is projected to double by 2020 and food staple markets are easier for small farms to access.

If most small farmers are to have a viable future, then governments, NGOs and the private sector need to make a concerted effort to create a fair and supportive economic environment for smallholder agriculture. Improved infrastructure, help to form effective marketing organisations, agricultural research and agricultural extension, access to credit, better risk management policies, and security of tenure can result in significant agricultural growth.

FARM-Africa is successfully demonstrating how many of Africa’s small farms can be cost effectively developed into viable businesses, boosting rural incomes and contributing to food security. Photography: Dan Chung, Guardian Dan Chung, Photography:

Cassava crop in Katine, Uganda Guardian Dan Chung, Photography: Forests, food, and brighter futures

Eastern Africa’s natural forests are fast disappearing, so FARM-Africa is working with forest communities to help them Ownership for Bale Forest communities to reduce their reliance on timber and In the mountainous Bale National Park in southern Ethiopia, growing develop management plans. This enables populations are putting increasing pressure on its unique natural resources. the governments and communities to Lowland communities rely on the forest catchments for fresh water, but manage the forest together sustainably and the more than 200,000 indigenous forest dwellers living there have few is helping to halt forest degradation and opportunities to improve their livelihoods in a long lasting way. improve food security.

FARM-Africa’s many years’ experience A central role for communities in forest management in forest management has allowed us to develop extremely effective ways to In 2008 we stepped up the momentum of our work in the Bale Forest combine the well-being of communities with our partner SOS Sahel. This work builds on our extensive learning living in and around fragile forest from the Participatory Forest Management Programme. We work alongside environments with the interests of local communities to create forest management plans which increase their sense and national governments. In this way of ownership. The plans give local communities, backed up by government forests will be used in a more sustainable services, a central role in managing natural resources across the whole Bale way. Massif, a part of the south-eastern Ethiopian highlands. We make sure that vulnerable groups (women, young people, those affected by HIV/AIDS and We establish forest management plans the illiterate) are included. In 2008 the project reached over 43,000 people together with local communities and help and, over the life of the project, will give communities a sense of ownership them to balance earning a living from of over 35,000 hectares of forest. forest resources with protecting the forest for the future. FARM-Africa supports families to earn money without harming Exciting prospects in the environment. We look at sustainable carbon trading enterprises such as keeping bees, weaving raffia mats, harvesting wild coffee and FARM-Africa is working with other organisations to explore ways for setting up small ecotourism businesses communities to earn an income from new carbon-financing mechanisms. to replace making charcoal, gathering This ground-breaking scheme could generate significant earnings for forest firewood, and felling trees for cropland communities and secure both their livelihoods and the unique natural or timber. These viable enterprises not resources of the forest for the future. only boost household incomes and food security but also combat unsustainable deforestation.

12 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Scaling up our successful In northern Tanzania approach to forest FARM-Africa has worked with From tree poacher to management communities in the Nou Forest (Tanzania) tree protector in Ethiopia: Our Participatory Forest Management since 2001. Since then, we have helped 18 the story of Ato Derara Programmes in Ethiopia and Tanzania villages draw up forest management plans Megersa were successfully completed in 2008. We and helped those communities to become are extremely pleased that the Ethiopian involved in managing the forest. As a result “I regret for the past action that I did Federal Government has integrated many illegal logging activities have fallen by 25%, and share my experience to educate aspects of this approach into its new a massive achievement in this area. other people not to repeat the same national forest conservation policy. crime against forest resources.” We will build on these accomplishments in Mr Megersa In Ethiopia an exciting new four-year project, funded We anticipate beginning work in 2009 by the European Union, to scale up the Mr Megersa is 50 years old and has a on a major project that will expand our approach in the Babati and Mbulu Districts family of four. In 1990, after years of civil forest management model in Ethiopia (northern Tanzania). We will reach 90,000 unrest, he returned to his birthplace, and put the new national policy into people in 10 villages and train district Galessa Forest. His only option for practice. Our goal is to further encourage government staff to replicate Participatory feeding his family was to cut and sell the government to take up Participatory Forest Management in a further 10 villages. firewood illegally. A few years later he Forest Management for all forest dwelling This will boost family incomes and food was evicted. communities in Ethiopia. If they do, more security and slow degradation of forest than three million forest users will benefit. resources significantly. In 1996, FARM-Africa gave Mr Megersa a job in a tree nursery. It was the opportunity he had been seeking to transform his life. From his earnings he saved enough to buy a sheep. Through a cooperative set up by FARM-Africa to help manage the forest, Mr Megersa could save money and get credit. Mr Megersa now owns two cows, two oxen, two horses, five milking sheep, half a hectare of eucalyptus woodlot, some farmland and a family home.

He is now a leading light in community forest management and actively works against illegal tree poaching. Eagerly passing on what he has learned, he also trains other community members to manage nurseries and raise tree seedlings.

FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 13 Pastoralism in harsh environments

“Instead of declaring FARM-Africa helps pastoralist communities Turning problems to create their own plans to improve their into solutions pastoral livelihoods livelihoods, and to access the finances to realise them. FARM-Africa works with pastoralist unviable, and implicitly communities to consider how they can use endorsing policies that the resources they have in a sustainable undermine pastoralism Keeping up tradition and way. We have shown pastoralists in the making progress Afar region of Ethiopia how to turn and turn doubtful a problem into a solution by clearing Our longstanding work with pastoralist an invasive plant overrunning precious assertions into inevitable communities across East Africa and rangeland and then selling products made Ethiopia helps them maintain their facts, observers and from the weed. Families have increased traditional way of life while increasing income and food as a result. policy-makers need to income generation to support their recognise the responses families. that pastoralists are Building futures with dignity themselves adopting to Our mobile outreach camps FARM-Africa’s straightforward reach remote communities participatory processes encourage the stresses and shocks communities to articulate their needs, Our innovative Mobile Outreach Camps that their livelihood set their own priorities and put their reach the remotest communities. We plans into practice. In northern Tanzania, system has always faced.” work with communities to learn what we used our knowledge of working with Scoones, I. and S. Devereux, 2006 they need and then help make plans pastoralist communities to reach out to to meet those needs. Supporting Hadzabe indigenous groups whose voices Pastoralists are nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists to set up credit schemes are rarely heard. livestock keepers who move with the means they can put their plans into seasons to find water and grazing for their practice. Often there are conflicts over Choosing a different lifestyle animals. They live in harsh environments land, livestock and water and we train and rely on rearing livestock for milk and communities in developing positive The Hadzabe are hunter-gatherers, but the meat, both for themselves and to sell to resolutions. land that they traditionally roam is being buy essentials. settled. Because of this, working with these people requires considerable sensitivity, Disaster planning There are more than twelve million as there is a danger that they will feel reduces risks pastoralists in Ethiopia and Kenya alone and that they are being forced into a different they are amongst the most marginalised Natural disasters are becoming more lifestyle because of this pressure on land. peoples in sub-Saharan Africa. Suffering frequent and intense with climate change, We are working with 1,793 families to high poverty rates, they live largely beyond and we are working with pastoralists to ensure that they have control over their the reach of formal education and health help them make plans to cope. In 2008, own futures. This work includes helping services, and have to cope with frequent we built on our longstanding work with them to improve their access to water and droughts and disease outbreaks that make the Ethiopian Pastoralist Project to help learn to keep bees. They are becoming this way of life ever harder to sustain. Most communities in South Omo develop early more aware of land rights issues and more communities also desperately lack affordable warning systems and strategies to cope knowledgeable about the role they can veterinary care for their livestock. with natural disasters. play in managing natural resources.

14 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 Helping women help themselves to a better life: Restituta’s story “I’m happy. I own more than ten goats and cultivate my own farm.” Restituta

Restituta lives in a settled pastoralist community in northern Tanzania and has three children. Until recently, she tended tiny plots belonging to her husband and parents, and looked after their cattle. She had little she could call her own and could see no way to ensure a better life for herself and her family.

That changed in 2006 when, through FARM-Africa’s work, women set up groups to save and give loans to members. In pastoralist societies culture and tradition mean that women find it very hard to get a foot on the ladder out of poverty. The Household Income Security Associations (HISA) scheme overcomes this hurdle and, coupled with training on income generating activities, gives women in this area a chance to buy land and livestock, and to pay school fees and family medical expenses.

Restituta is now a community resource worker and passes on what she has learned to other groups. From her dividends she soon expects to be able to start building a house. Livestock, a major asset in rural Africa

How livestock support FARM-Africa and the Community Animal people in Africa Global Alliance for Livestock Health Network Veterinary Medicines The importance of livestock in supporting Animal health services in Africa are in and sustaining life in rural Africa cannot be Many diseases affecting livestock in Africa a state of flux. Many countries have overstated. can either kill or cause serious illness, withdrawn subsidised state services, while stripping families of their major asset private practitioners focus on commercial For most families in rural Africa, livestock and forcing them into poverty. In many farms. A variety of organisations is trying to are the main asset and for many, can cases, there are no reliable vaccines and plug the gap by providing services through provide a route out of poverty. Cattle in a few, no effective medicines. To tackle different community based grassroots and goats provide milk for the family and this problem, the UK’s Department for delivery systems. Many of these groups any surplus can be sold. Animals, too, can International Development (DFID) has work in isolation and can learn much from be sold and the money used to buy food invested in animal health research for years. each other by sharing good practice. and clothes and pay school fees. Livestock also provide valuable manure for crops, To bring together all the different groups There is a lack of commercial products boosting production when fertiliser is working on community based veterinary accessible to livestock keepers in the scarce and expensive. Ploughing with oxen systems, FARM-Africa established the developing world. For this reason, DFID and donkeys saves a great deal of time. Community Animal Health Network was one of the key instigators of the (CAHNET). This network aims to improve Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Virtually all livestock in Africa eat practice, share experiences and help Medicines (GALVmed) in 2005. FARM- vegetation that people cannot eat and farmers identify their needs and articulate Africa is proud to have been invited use vast tracts of land that cannot be them to policy makers. Through the new to become a founder member of this cultivated. Their role during droughts is partnership with GALVmed, CAHNET particularly important; when crops fail, organisation and help shape its early years. will be able to reach more organisations families must fall back on their livestock. and support innovative learning and Selling a goat can buy enough grain to feed In 2008, GALVmed received its first grant information systems using mobile phone a family for two months. Some African from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation technology. families describe their livestock as both a for the Protecting Livestock, Saving Human bank and an ATM! Life project. This initiative aims to develop www.galvmed.org vaccines for four of the most important www.cah-net.net For many families, owning a chicken or a diseases. However, to be effective, vaccines goat can be their first step out of poverty. must also be accessible to livestock This is why FARM-Africa places great keepers. This is where FARM-Africa comes emphasis on developing ways to reduce in, by disseminating information on new risk through improved animal health, and products through our Community Animal to boost incomes through improved Health Network. livestock management and marketing.

16 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 “Before I became a buck More knowledge, more confidence, healthier animals: keeper, I would never Tabitha’s story even be acknowledged or invited to a public Tabitha lives with her husband and five meeting. Now I am not children near Mwingi in Kenya’s Eastern just invited but even given Province. Since becoming involved in the FARM-Africa Kenya Dairy Goat Capacity the opportunity to speak. Building Project her life has changed. I really appreciate the project as I have been Tabitha attended several FARM-Africa lifted from the ground to training courses. Now she has a Toggenburg buck which has serviced 232 local goats somewhere.” and boosted her income by 50 per cent. Tabitha Farmers benefit as Toggenburg offspring fetch four to five times as much as offspring of local goats. Tabitha also sells goat milk and goat manure.

The training courses have improved Tabitha’s knowledge of animal health and boosted her confidence. If she needs to, she gets in touch with a neighbour, Teresa, a community animal health worker trained by FARM-Africa. And Teresa can call Safari Mbui, an Animal Health Assistant, who set up a veterinary drugstore nearby with a loan from FARM-Africa if she is not able to tackle the problem herself.

The result, as Dr. James Kithuka, FARM- Africa, says is that “the level of awareness among farmers in the area has risen and that they are seeking more advice – that must translate into more healthy animals”.

Getting involved

FARM-Africa would not be able to carry out its work without the help Dinner with our President, Sir Martin Wood of our many supporters. We would like to thank everyone who has In May 2008, Sir Martin and Lady Wood hosted a reception for been involved with FARM-Africa since our foundation, and particularly 50 guests, including FARM-Africa Patrons Sir Peter de la Billière those who have supported us over the last year. There is not space and Michael Palin, our chairman Lord De Ramsey, and other to mention everyone, but we would like to thank the following in supporters. We are most grateful to Sir Martin and Lady Wood particular. for hosting the evening and making it such a success.

Fundraising cyclists Corporate ‘thank yous’ Sam Williams has already broken records rowing solo across the Huge thanks to Mako Global and Lloyd’s of London for their Atlantic to raise £20,000 for FARM-Africa. Now, just a year later, continued support. In addition, we are very grateful to the the 25-year-old is getting on his bike to cycle 6,000 miles from following companies for their generous support: Alsford Page and London to Kenya. www.pedallingalltheway.com Gems, Canopius, Casey Consulting, Cotswold Outdoor, Dodson Bros, FINN Trading, Fitflop, GlassTap, Real World Travel, Green After the many challenges of last year’s attempted solo cycle trip, Ink Publishing, Helpful Hirings, Highland Grain, Hiscox, Innovative Daniel Harman is planning a group ride to Africa where he hopes to visit some of the work he has helped support. Financial Solutions, Lovells, Man Group, Palmstead Nurseries, Paperchase, Peregrine Trading, Spirit of Wood, St Helen’s Farm and Turner Fine Foods. A special thank you to the National Farmers’ Thanks to the marathon efforts of our 2008 Union for their support in the Africa 100 Appeal. running team Thanks to the dedicated people who ran the 28th London Trusts and institutions Marathon around some of the most eye-catching London We are very grateful to the Department for International landmarks. We were proud of our team who we supported around the course from the FARM-Africa cheering points and Development, the European Union, Cordaid, Norwegian who raised an incredible £30,000 for our work. Development Fund, Irish Aid, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, Isle of Man Overseas Aid Committee and the A busy year for Friends of FARM Big Lottery Fund. Friends of FARM, our country-wide supporter network, raised £30,000 during the year. Events included Teas in a Country FARM-Africa is also hugely grateful to the many trusts and Garden in Shropshire, coppicing courses in Berkshire, and a foundations whose invaluable support enables us to help prestigious dinner in the Scottish Borders at Monteviot House, so many African farmers. There is not room here to thank the home of Lord and Lady Lothian. Karen Warne’s Rainforest them all by name, but here are just a few: Ford Foundation, Challenge saw Karen and a colleague at the Eden Project spend Medicor Foundation Liechtenstein, the innocent foundation, five days and four nights in the Rainforest Biome. Congratulations The J J Charitable Trust, The Elsevier Foundation, Ingram Trust, go to Tim Jury who raised an amazing £8,000 from a variety of The Waterloo Foundation, Four Acre Trust, Topinambour events, including a barn dance, Ride for Africa, donations instead of Trust, Foster Wood Foundation, The Tulip Charitable Trust, wedding presents and running the London Marathon. If you would Kilimo Trust, Charles Hayward Foundation, The Sulney Fields like to get in touch with your local Friends of FARM group please Charitable Trust, Mrs L D Rope’s Third Charitable Settlement contact our head office for further information. and The Dulverton Trust.

FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 19

FARM-Africa staff news

The team we have in place at all levels active involvement in private enterprise here and in Africa, is the best it has ever and smallholder schemes. His specialist been. Add to that a Board of Trustees with knowledge of cane and beet sugar, tree the most diverse range of competencies crops, cassava and beef cattle will continue FARM-Africa has ever had and you will to be invaluable to FARM-Africa. understand why I leave the Board with

pride and not a little sadness. But I must thank you for giving me the chance to try New Trustees and fulfill the words of St Luke “For unto Timothy Olalekan Williams, an agricultural whomsoever much is given, of him shall economist at the Commonwealth much be required”. Secretariat, has joined FARM-Africa’s Board of Trustees. Timothy heads and coordinates I pass the baton to Martin Evans with the work of the Enterprise and Agriculture every confidence that he will make Section in the Special Advisory Services good use of it. Having gained a PhD at Division. Cambridge he has acquired technical and managerial experience in forestry, livestock Timothy is an agricultural economist with and food crops all over Asia, Africa and over 25 years’ experience in developing Australia. His expertise includes specialist policies to enhance the growth of crop knowledge as well as strategic John De Ramsey, retiring small enterprises and the livelihoods of planning and investment analysis, much of Chairman smallholder farmers. He currently works to it with small farmers. FARM-Africa will go assist Commonwealth member countries “Live as if you will die tomorrow but from strength to strength with him at the and small and medium enterprises in farm as if you will live for ever” is a motto helm. Martin - we all thank you. well known to British farmers but not addressing the challenges they face in farm much help to the poorest of the poor and non-farm business development, food in Africa. With food shortages likely to New Chairman safety and agricultural health standards. Prior to joining the Commonwealth increase due to population pressure and Our new Chairman is Martin Evans, Secretariat, he was Research Team Leader changing climate, FARM-Africa’s small scale a distinguished agricultural economist. and Regional Representative (West Africa) innovations which can be scaled up to Previously FARM-Africa’s Deputy of the International Livestock Research make a regional impact are needed more Chairman, Martin brings to his new Institute. than ever. Through this I have learned there position 30 years of experience in is no limit to what the poor can achieve agriculture, agribusiness and rural once they are convinced that they are development acquired all over Southeast John Shaw recently stepped down as being offered the right solution. and East Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Finance Director of Oxfam and has the former Soviet Union, South America, joined FARM-Africa’s Board of Trustees. While our concentration on the rural poor the South Pacific and Australia. John worked at Royal Mail for 27 years, has felt distinctly lonely at times, we are including in a number of senior finance now leaders in world opinion. Events are Martin has advised on policies for trade and general management roles. He joined forcing the world’s governments and major and prices, structural adjustment and Oxfam in 2002, initially as International donors to concentrate on agriculture for a economic reform, and development Finance Director and has been Finance change. While we might be tempted to say financing for the World Bank, UN Food Director for the past four years. John “and about time too”, it behoves us rather and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has contributed to sector-wide learning to make the most of our lead and to and many other major development on key issues, such as risk management, realise the pressure it puts on us to make organisations. He has extensive experience and brings a wealth of strategic, financial the best use of our special knowledge of strategic planning, investment analysis and governance expertise to the role of accumulated over the last 24 years. and operational management, and Trustee.

20 FARM-Africa Annual Review 2008/9 finances

The information presented on this page gives an overview of FARM-Africa’s income and expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Where did we get our income from? What did we spend it on? We received £6.48 million in income in 2008. We spent £6.4 million in 2008.

Other Income Sources 3% Committed Giving 9% Government Costs 2% Community Fundraising 2% Raising Awareness 6%

Generating Improving Funds 15% Trusts & Practice 11% Corporates 18% Appeals & Legacies 17%

Changing Policy 10%

Institutional Donors 51% Developing Agricultural Best Practice 56%

The swift action taken by the organisation in 2007 to improve our In summary, FARM-Africa is in a far stronger position financially financial position has paid dividends in 2008. We have increased than at the end of 2007. We are of course facing a number our total income and have felt the full benefits of the cost saving of external financial challenges, in particular the weakening of measures put into place last year which, together with a change in sterling against the Euro, the US dollar and our African operating the timing of receipt of restricted funds, has led to an overall surplus currencies. However we continue to improve our forecasting and for the year. risk management processes, and this together with the strategies and actions underpinning our 2009-2011 business plan allows us to In total 83% of our expenditure for 2008 was made on direct continue to look forward with confidence and excitement to the charitable activities supporting the implementation of our years ahead. vision, compared to 74% in 2007. This is a notable result in the context of our programme of cost saving measures, and reflects For a fuller understanding of the financial affairs of the charity, please our commitment to minimise the impact of the restructuring request a copy of the full Trustees’ report, audit report and financial programme on our beneficiaries. statements from the Finance Director, FARM-Africa, Clifford’s Inn, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1BZ. Patrons Lord Plumb of Colehill DL Sir Peter de la Billière KCB KBE DSO MC MSC DL Michael Palin CBE

President Sir Martin Wood OBE FRS DL

Trustees/Directors Lord De Ramsey DL (Chairman) Dr Martin Evans (Deputy Chair) Norman Coward (Treasurer and Trustee until 25th June 2008) Richard Lackmann (Treasurer from 25th June 2008) Victoria Rae (Board Secretary) Jan Bonde Nielsen Dr Peter Hazell Dr Paul Zuckerman (until 25th June 2008) Dr Helen Pankhurst Nader Mousavizadeh Carey Ngini (from 12th March 2008)

FARM-Africa Clifford’s Inn, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1BZ t +44 (0)20 7430 0440 f +44 (0)20 7430 0460 e [email protected] w www.farmafrica.org.uk

Registered Charity Number: 326901 Registered Company Number: 01926828

Writing: Scriptoria Communications (www.scriptoria.co.uk) Design and layout: Oegen Ltd (www.oegen.co.uk) Printer: Plan4 Photos: FARM-Africa, Dan Chung, Guardian